USCG Training Center Petaluma

Fred's Place Special Tribute Page For The Training Center Petaluma TC "A" School Staff, Instructors And Especially Class 06-03

The first Coast Guard Telecommunications Specialist School (then know as Radioman school) was established in late 1925 at Coast Guard Base Fort Trumball, New London CT, co-located at that time w/ the wireless operators by enlisting persons having a First Class Telegraph License issued by the Department of Commerce, and also used the striker program.

Experienced operators holding licenses were enlisted as Chief Operators. A resident school was established in 1940 at the Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay MD. The two schools ran concurrently for approximately two years. In 1942, the two schools were brought together to form a large school in Atlantic New Jersey to meet WWII needs. In 1946, the school was relocated to the Avery Point Station, Groton CT. In late 1967, the school began moving to the Coast Guard Training Center Governors Island NY, completing the move early in 1968. The school was relocated to its present home, Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma CA in late 1971.

Telecommunications Specialist "A" School Class 06-03 is the last class to go through TC training at Training Center Petaluma, CA. The Telecommunications Specialist rating will soon be incorporated into either the Information System Technician (IT) or Operations System Specialist (OS) ratings.

Many of us remember the old Radioman (RM) rating - long known as "Sparks". Not only are we witnessing the passing of the TC rating but also the passing of the "sparks" rating designator. These men and women will be the last people to wear "sparks" on their arm.

We will follow this class through their training period. Each week we will post photos of their progress.

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Getting Started - Week One

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TC1 Chris Davis checks I.D. Cards.

Ready for Inspection!.

Welcome to MOD I.

The Titan instructors are (from front to rear) Mr. Mark Hernandez LCDR (ret), Mr. Roger Scott TCC (ret), and Mr. Andrew Bettencourt TC1 (ret). The Titan instructors will be helping the active duty staff with the new teaching styles for future OS classes.

TC1 Fowler giving CDAR training.

TC1 Marsh giving Wellness and Financial Aid training.

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Finishing The First Week

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TC1 Chris Davis teaching Leadership and Management.

SN Brian Goldsmith during introduction.

SN Adrian Persoon showing off something unusual.

Jake, Eric, Jimmy, and Diego during LAMS.

TC1 Kathy Gee teaching Leadership.

TC1 Teresa Hernandez teaching the Teams Modual.

Leadership and Management Teams Modual.

CPO Persico assisting with Leadership and Managment training.

To cross the line or not to cross the line.

Jumping the rope.

Let the games begin.

Working as a team.

Getting the story right in LAMS.

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Week Two is Over

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SN Bacon drawing a Local Area Network.

SN Insignares demonstrates class Charlie fire fighting technique.

SN Gonzalez demonstrating proper Charlie fire fighting technique.

SN Ortiz has a turn at fighting a Charlie fire.

The first quiz.

MOD I quiz.

TCC Lisa Hienz (TC A School course chief) addressing the class.

TCCM Jim Morgan (TCIC) addressing the class.

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MOD I is behind us - Ready for Inspection

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SN Ortiz taking a MOD I quiz.

SN Robinson taking a MOD I quiz.

Inspection with Service Dress Blues.

Forming up for inspection.

TCCM Jim Morgan and TCC Scott Smith inspect the class.

TCCM Jim Morgan, TCC Scott Smith, and TC1 Christopher Davis inpect the class.

FN Goldsmith has his hat inpected by TCC Scott Smith.

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Here Comes MOD II

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Enjoying a sports day.

I got it!!....

Lets get it on!!

BT (break).

Volleyball at it's finest.

Spike!!

Where is the ball....

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We're into MOD II

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SN Plante taking a MOD II quiz.

MOD II District One taking a quiz

MOD II District Seven with TC1 Davis as their supervisor.

SN Caron in MOD II.

MOD II District Five with TC1 Hernandez as their supervisor.

SN Logan in MOD II.

SN Cole in MOD II taking a quiz.

Down but not out at a recent basketball game.

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Ready For Inspection ???

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SN Grau get inspected by TC1 Carpenter.

Worth another look.

The inspection is also a great time to review for the next day's quiz.

SN Persoon's turn to stand under the light. Notice the sign above him. That sign was over the door in Bldg 500.

TC1 Carpenter and TC1 Davis look for somthing on SN Rester's uniform.

TC1 Carpenter looks over SN Watson.

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Winding up MOD II

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SN Logan wears a lifevest on his birthday.

SN Jiminez is Queen for the day in MOD II.

Talking outside of your district means you wear a lifevest.

More Jeopardy.

A game of Jeopardy to review for the quiz.

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We got our orders!!!

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The moment has arrived for orders to be issued. Some will be happy, others will be sad, and others will be shocked.

SN Williams - Happy.

SN Cole - unsure if he's happy, sad, or shocked.

SN Robinson - Happy.

SN Jiminez is reaching for the stars. Or she's reaching for Gru Miluwakee.

SN Goldsmith - content.

SN Bacon - placed himself on the CGC Morgenthau.

SN Logon - will take what he gets.

SN Bean was told that Gru Mobil wasn't available, so now he must decide what cutter to pick.

SN Caron - shocked and relieved he got what he wanted.

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Final Chapter - Graduation

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Honor Guard presents the Colors

Ladies & Gentlemen ... TC Class 06-03

A few words from Captian Jack Smith, Commanding Officer, Training Center Petaluma

A few more words from TCCM James Morgan, Chief, Telecommunications School

And a few more words from TCC Chris Davis, Class Advisor

And even MORE words from Guest Speaker Mark Hernandez LCDR USCG ret.

Congradulations ! SNTC Dave Robinson, Honor Graduate

The Watch Has Been Relieved! SN King from OS Class 01-03 reads "The Watch"

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Click on any individual photo for a larger view

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SNTC James T. Bacon

TC3 Timothy E. Bean

TC3 Seth M. Caron

TC3 Nicole L. Clark

SNTC Christopher W. Cole

TC3 Brian J. Goldsmith

TC3 Erica Gonzalez

SNTC Eric M. Grau

TC3 Edgardo G. Insignares

SNTC Cynthia M. Jiminez

TC3 Jacob A. Logan

SNTC Diego G. Ortiz

TC3 Adrian B. Persoon

TC3 Ronald A. Plante

TC3 Jacob T. Rester

TC3 David M. Robinson

SNTC Dan P. Williams

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TC1 John A. Fowler

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It was my pleasure to meet and thank TC1 John A. Fowler. It was John that first contacted me and proposed this tribute page. John took the photos and submitted them during Class 06-03's training. A great BIG "Thanks Mate" for everything you did to bring this piece of CG History to the pages of Fred's Place.

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Some Personal Memories & Old Friends

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I also had the honor and pleasue of having my picture taken together with the TC Class 06-03.

Old friend and past MCPOCG Vince Patton talks with my wife, Mary, and I as CMCs Denise Kahler and Kenton R. Danielson stand in the background. Not only is Vince a great supporter of Fred's Place, he was an RM1 before he lateral to Yeoman. Vince now serves on the Board of Advisors for Military.com. MCPO Denise Kahler not only holds the distinction of being the first female E-9 Radioman but will be the only female to ever wear "two stars and sparks".

Left to right: Larry Polito - Graduation speaker, ex-RM and ZUT Representative Garret Conklin - Fred's Place Cruise Book Editor, ex-RM2 and CGC Taney sailor, George Larsen - Pearl Harbor Survivor, Pres of local (CA) PHS chapter, ex-RM1. George Datz - He was at NMH when ZUT was born and is ZUT#2.

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